# If a poster is wrong more than half the time, would you take them seriously? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 7, 2013, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238 "2013-09-07T09:31:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/141 "2013-09-09T13:30:52Z")
BTW, I’m still waiting for you to back up [the assertion you made in post #71](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16646041&postcount=71). I called for it in [post #72](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16646043&postcount=72) and again in [post #94](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16646622&postcount=94) and then again in [post #96](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16646682&postcount=96) but you have yet to back up your wild claim. I’m also waiting for a cite that “Obama is wrong more than half the time he opens his mouth”, another assertion you made in the other Pit thread without evidence to support it. [Cite](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16645750&postcount=279). ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/142 "2013-09-09T13:51:05Z")
> [@Truman\_Burbank](#): > > “I’m not going to let you morons win. I will actually get better at supporting my arguments, and I’ll rub your ugly faces in it” > > Like shooting fish in a barrel. You are a complete idiot, and such a flaming hypocrite you couldn’t possibly be unaware of it, could you? In any case, if you are determined to ignore and reject all feedback, why don’t you just leave us for the haven of this (still uncited) ‘other’ forum? I assure we’d all get over it. > > I’m willing to take you at your word that you’re trying to be an asshole. Occam’s Razor, and all that. And I’m still awaiting my dish of hypocrisy admission! Waiter! ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/143 "2013-09-09T13:52:51Z")
I, too, have been waiting to see if _adaher_ backs up his claims. I started multi-quoting a dozen or so of his “factual” assertions, and even simple little comments like: > [@](#): > > There have been times when I’ve yanked a dumb argument out of my ass _Cite?_ > [@](#): > > Sometimes my posts aren’t wasting time at all… _Cite?_ But I realized it was taking time away from reading something that’d improve my mind. And then it hit me that that’s what most of his posts have been doing. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/144 "2013-09-09T14:17:04Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > On the contrary – please point out the posts in that thread that you feel genuinely criticize **EC** or the argument in anything approaching a harsh manner. > > The point is not that the liberal-friendly false claims posted are never corrected. It’s that their correction is seldom a point of ire or indignation; there’s no anger or vitriol associated with it. > > Conversely, while a conservative-friendly false claim is quickly debunked, it’s done with energy and vigor and most importantly ire. Ah, there are two sides to every story. If X does A and Y does something that can be somehow characterized as being like A, then X and Y should be treated equally. After all this, what you seek is the perpetuation of the standard of false equivalence. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/145 "2013-09-09T14:28:58Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > What a bunch of bullshit. > > So now it’s not enough to debunk an assertion by someone you deem to be a liberal, it has to be done in “a harsh manner” with “anger or vitriol”? :roll eyes: PUH-leez. Nothing “has” to be done. But it’s certainly supportive of my point that _when_ vitriol and ire come into play, it’s a conservative claim being debunked, not a liberal one. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/146 "2013-09-09T14:30:04Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Ah, there are two sides to every story. If X does A and Y does something that can be somehow characterized as being like A, then X and Y should be treated equally. After all this, what you seek is the perpetuation of the standard of false equivalence. Or the standard of _actual_ equivalence. ---
**Author:** ![sylmar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@sylmar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sylmar)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/147 "2013-09-09T14:34:48Z")
… ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/148 "2013-09-09T14:39:35Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Or the standard of _actual_ equivalence. An ire of 7? A vigor of 8? What if the scale goes to 11? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/149 "2013-09-09T14:48:13Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > But it’s certainly supportive of my point that _when_ vitriol and ire come into play, it’s a conservative claim being debunked, not a liberal one. “No, **Evil Captor** , no! Bad liberal. No brie.” Happy now? ---
**Author:** ![sylmar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@sylmar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sylmar)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/150 "2013-09-09T15:05:01Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > “No, **Evil Captor** , no! Bad liberal. No brie.” > Happy now? I feel you’re going a little overboard with the brie banning Robot Arm. Seriously, wouldn’t a moderate pepper spraying followed by tazing suffice? Oh! Scratch the pepper spray. Forgot Fox proved its a condiment. We don’t want EC using it on his brie and getting the wrong message out of this… ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/151 "2013-09-09T15:06:30Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > “No, **Evil Captor** , no! Bad liberal. No brie.” > Happy now? But he still gets arugula? Pssh. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/152 "2013-09-09T15:10:07Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > “No, **Evil Captor** , no! Bad liberal. No brie.” > Happy now? If we can’t have brie and cheese, there’s no point to the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/153 "2013-09-09T15:14:50Z")
> [@sylmar](#): > > I feel you’re going a little overboard with the brie banning Robot Arm. Seriously, wouldn’t a moderate pepper spraying followed by tazing suffice? > > Oh! Scratch the pepper spray. Forgot Fox proved its a condiment. We don’t want EC using it on his brie and getting the wrong message out of this… It’s OK as long as the pepper is organic, sustainably grown, and locally sourced. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/154 "2013-09-09T15:25:39Z")
“Ire, me hearties! Ire, Ire!” ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/155 "2013-09-09T15:26:55Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > “No, **Evil Captor** , no! Bad liberal. No brie.” > Happy now? Of course not. A child can distinguish between what you posted and actual ire. You know what I’ve said is true, and and I assume, when this kind of useless drivel is substituted for actual rebuttal, it’s because you got nuthin. Especially poignant, this, inasmuch as this thread inveighs at length against adaher, who of course often uses this kind of juvenile tactic in his frustration. Am I wrong? Do you have something serious? ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/156 "2013-09-09T15:39:58Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Of course not. A child can distinguish between what you posted and actual ire. > > You know what I’ve said is true, and and I assume, when this kind of useless drivel is substituted for actual rebuttal, it’s because you got nuthin. Especially poignant, this, inasmuch as this thread inveighs at length against adaher, who of course often uses this kind of juvenile tactic in his frustration. > > Am I wrong? Do you have something serious? I guess I’ve been too subtle. Yes, you’re wrong and you’re fucking thick. Your perception of vigor is your own. There is going to be no way to demonstrate to you that the liberals on this board are not as vitriolic as you perceive them to be, nor that the conservatives are more vitriolic than you perceive them to be. You’re pursuing a tired argument that makes you look like a whiney ass titty baby. Fucking post here or don’t, but the board is the board. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/157 "2013-09-09T16:00:00Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > The point is not that the liberal-friendly false claims posted are never corrected. It’s that their correction is seldom a point of ire or indignation; there’s no anger or vitriol associated with it. > > Conversely, while a conservative-friendly false claim is quickly debunked, it’s done with energy and vigor and most importantly ire. And the conclusion we should draw from this is what, exactly? Liberals don’t like conservatives as much as they like other liberals? That’s really not much of a revelation. Generally speaking, if someone makes a poor argument in support of a position I agree with, I’m not going to get angry at him, because the part that I’m emotionally invested in is the position, not the argument. If someone makes a poor argument against a position I support, I’m more likely to get angry - not because it’s a poorly made argument, but because I dislike the position being argued. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/158 "2013-09-09T16:07:31Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > And the conclusion we should draw from this is what, exactly? Liberals don’t like conservatives as much as they like other liberals? That’s really not much of a revelation. Generally speaking, if someone makes a poor argument in support of a position I agree with, I’m not going to get angry at him, because the part that I’m emotionally invested in is the position, not the argument. If someone makes a poor argument against a position I support, I’m more likely to get angry - not because it’s a poorly made argument, but because I dislike the position being argued. Yes. I agree. You’ve exactly described the dynamic in play. But not everyone is willing to admit it: > [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > I guess I’ve been too subtle. > Yes, you’re wrong and you’re fucking thick. Your perception of vigor is your own. There is going to be no way to demonstrate to you that the liberals on this board are not as vitriolic as you perceive them to be, nor that the conservatives are more vitriolic than you perceive them to be. > > You’re pursuing a tired argument that makes you look like a whiney ass titty baby. Fucking post here or don’t, but the board is the board. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/159 "2013-09-09T16:09:09Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > I guess I’ve been too subtle. > Yes, you’re wrong and you’re fucking thick. Your perception of vigor is your own. There is going to be no way to demonstrate to you that the liberals on this board are not as vitriolic as you perceive them to be, nor that the conservatives are more vitriolic than you perceive them to be. > > You’re pursuing a tired argument that makes you look like a whiney ass titty baby. Fucking post here or don’t, but the board is the board. See? Now THAT’S an example of true vitriol. Take notes, kids; this may be on the final. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238/160 "2013-09-09T16:19:03Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Yes. I agree. You’ve exactly described the dynamic in play. Are you arguing that there’s something inherently wrong with that dynamic, though, or are you just noting its existence? Do you think liberals ought to be going after **Evil Captor** as hard as they go after **adahar**? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-poster-is-wrong-more-than-half-the-time-would-you-take-them-seriously/668238.md?page=9)